San Francisco, California – OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, is assuring investors of the company’s strong position amid the departure of key personnel. The tech startup, known for its artificial intelligence advancements, is on the brink of securing a significant funding round despite recent exits from top executives.

Friar reached out to investors following the announcement of Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati’s departure, along with two research executives leaving the company. She emphasized the company’s pride in Murati’s contributions and highlighted the talented leadership team in place to continue driving innovation.

Backed by major players like Microsoft and Apple, OpenAI is in the final stages of securing a $6.5 billion funding round, with expectations to value the company at around $150 billion. Thrive Capital is leading the investment, with plans to inject $1 billion into the company.

In her communication, Friar confirmed that the funding round was oversubscribed and is set to close in the coming week. The team is preparing to engage with investors to introduce them to key leaders within the product and research divisions, showcasing their commitment to expanding access to AI technologies.

Despite the departures of key executives, including co-founders and research heads, Friar announced strategic appointments to key roles within the organization. Mark Chen is stepping into the position of Senior Vice President of Research, alongside other leaders poised to drive innovation within the company.

Formerly the CEO of Nextdoor and CFO at Block, Friar brings a wealth of experience to her current role at OpenAI. At an internal meeting, CEO Sam Altman denied reports of receiving a “giant equity stake” in the company, addressing concerns raised by investors about his ownership stake in the organization he helped establish almost a decade ago.

As OpenAI navigates through leadership changes and prepares for its next phase of growth, the tech industry will be closely watching to see how the company continues to shape the future of artificial intelligence. With a strong leadership bench in place and a lucrative funding round on the horizon, OpenAI remains focused on democratizing access to AI technologies and delivering value to its stakeholders and employees.